Spectacle or eyeglass case.



No. 682,396. Patented Sept. I0, l90l.

G. W. WELLS.

SPEGTACLE 0R EYEGLASS CASE.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

Wifizessas: Invert/Z27? m Geo. 77???? Z25.

glasses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

GEORGE NV. WELLS, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECTACLE OR EYEG LASS CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 682,396, datedSeptember 10, 1901.

Application filed March 28, 1900. Serial No. 10,454. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WELLS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Southbridge, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements inSpectacle or Eyeglass Cases, of which the following is a speci fication.

My invention relates to spectacle or eyeglass cases; and the object ofmy invention is to provide an improved spectacle and eyeglass casehaving a spring-actuated lid or cover which must be held open againstthe action of the spring, but is closed and held closed by the action ofthe spring.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction of myimproved spectacle or eyeglass case, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed.

' Referrin g to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of aspectacle or eyeglass case embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is acrosssectional view thereof on the line w 00, Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings the spectacle or eyeglass case shown ispreferably made of metal, which may be covered with leather in theordinary Way, and consists of the body portion 1, which may be of theshape shown in the drawings, adapted to hold spectacles or eyeglasses.The lid or cover 2 is hinged at one edge to one edge of the body 1 ofthe case and is preferably made convexed outwardly, as shown, to furnisha space for offset nose-guards now ordinarily used on eye- In connectionwith the body 1 of the case and the lid or cover 2 I employ a spring 3,which acts to close and hold closed the lid or cover, but does not actto hold it open.

In the form of device shown as embodying my present invention the body 1and cover 2 are each provided with bent portions 4 4', through whichpasses the spring 3, which thus acts also as the pintle of the hingeconnecting the body and cover. The spring 3, which is of less lengththan the body and lid, at each end is bent back upon itself, as shown at3 3, and such portion of the spring rests upon the top of the lid.Between the bent ends 3 3 of the spring 3 there is a bent portion 3",preferably, though not necessarily, midway between said ends, which bentportion bears against the exterior of the body portion. Thus between theaction of the ends 3 3 upon the lid and the part 3 upon the body of thecase the lid 2 is normally held closed, and the spring 3 acts not onlyto close the lid after it has been opened, but to hold it closed.

The advantages of my improvements will be readily appreciated by thoseskilled in the art. I provide a spectacle or eyeglass case with aspringactuated self -closing,lid or cover which is of very simple andinexpen si ve construction and in which the rod or pintle of thehinge-joint of the case may act as 6 5 the spring to close and holdclosed the lid or cover.

It will be understood that the details of construction of myimprovements may be varied, if desired, and different forms of spectacleand eyeglass cases may be used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- As an article of manufacture, a spectacleor eyeglass case consisting of a body and a lid convexed outwardly, eachprovided with joining portions, a rod or pintle connecting the joiningportions of the body and lid and extending less than the length of thebody and lid portions, said rod or pintle having its central portionbent to form a loop to bear upon the outside of the body and itsopposite ends bent toward each other to bear upon the outside of the lidto thereby normally close and hold closed the lid.

GEORGE "W. WELLS.

Witnesses:

J. C. WELLs, E. E. SABIN.

